Cher has never cared much for conventions, and at 80, she remains as iconic as ever. Her fearlessness has made her one of the greatest pop music icons, with artists like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé citing her as inspiration.

Over six decades, Cher has scored multiple number-one hits on US Billboard charts, a feat matched only by the Rolling Stones. It began in 1965 with 'I Got You Babe' and continued into 2023 with 'DJ Play a Christmas Song' topping the Adult Contemporary chart.

Cher also set fashion trends. In the 1960s, she and Sonny Bono turned bell-bottom pants into a hippie staple, pairing them with crop tops that outraged conservatives. The couple was even refused accommodation at London's Hilton hotel for their 'unconventional' wardrobe.

At the 1974 Met Gala, Cher wore Bob Mackie's famous 'Naked Dress' — a transparent Lycra gown with rhinestones and feathers, creating the illusion of nudity. Time magazine's 1975 cover featuring the dress was banned in several US cities.

In 1989, Cher's 'If I Could Turn Back Time' video, where she performed in a transparent mesh bodysuit on a warship, was relegated to late-night MTV. In 1998, she pioneered the use of AutoTune as a stylistic effect in 'Believe', now known as the 'Cher Effect' and widely used in hip-hop and R&B.

In 2024, Cher was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and released her bestselling memoir. She has been in a relationship with a man 40 years her junior since 2022, responding to critics: 'Other people don't live my life.'

Source: www.dw.com